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RE: Paco de Lucia has passed away (in reply to Guest)
quote:
I debated with myself as to what to put here. The meaning is unclear.
Nunez posted his own translation today:
Paco de Lucia, The Fourth Dimension By Gerardo Nunez – February 27, 2014 Paco de Lucia “I’m writing under the effect of the tremendous blow of unexpected deaths. I repeat to myself “Paco has died” and I can’t understand what I’m saying. The brain and the fingers that have stopped are those of a demigod who, keeping with infinite pride his independence and freedom, raised our music, flamenco, to the fourth dimension of grand music. And he did it without giving in, without giving an inch to the high and mighty and the ephemeral big shots, without owing anything to anyone, injecting conscience, self-esteem, pride, and enough strength in young flamenco performers to free themselves from the submission to sales and festivities, from the grey arts culture in which they played the role of buffoon until then.
He opened the door ta closed home, confronted storms and demons. Like Ulysses, he made a dangerous voyage so that the rest of us could also do it. He saved us. And now, a lightning bolt got him at the seashore. Where else would Paco die? Paco, I don’t know what to say. Greatness. Greatness. Greatness.”
RE: Paco de Lucia has passed away (in reply to chester)
Interesting point to me with what Nunez mentions. And while thinking of it: Indeed presenting flamenco artists must have been a bit like featuring a curiousity show, in the sense of "let´s see what the pygmy dance like". You know, like it´s not been civilized music anyway, but some primitive tribal rain dance. In those times of "flamingo music".
RE: Paco de Lucia has passed away (in reply to chester)
Been watching Paco videos and so moved once again; then had to go and portion chicken scraps that we get from poulterer for the dogs.
You should see what toffs here order to be cut and thrown away. Head and feet anyway, then the neck, the the rib cage with all that´s inside and around it, all of the skin, the rump, all of the fat and the wings. ( That at around 7 bucks /kg, mind you.) With both hands in the mess, thanks to the water that´s been injected into the poor animals, once again wondering what makes consumers waste like that, I thought to be nearing the answer as to why everyone is being so personally taken by Paco de Lucias passing away.
His musical legacy can only to a degree explain the emotional effects on the people.
You know that cliché about the decadence of the aristocrats? Many among those people can be disgusting indeed, but the stereotype about decadence is not accurately weighted that way. The most decadent actually prove to be parvenus. Usually under complex about their humble descent, they want to make up for all that they envision as lacking sophistication and background. And that all at once.
Buying whole chicken and letting thrown away most of it, is only one example of the uneducated startup. Notoriously gold plated bathroom fittings, or weirdly treated luxury vehicles of oil sheikhs are further examples of trying to emulate style where there only is material potency. Other typical symptoms are treating personel like sh!t and behaving like moron in public.
All intended to distance oneself from the actual cultural origin.
Paco lived things exactly opposite. Understating. There was no holding court, no appearance of a majesty ( You should have seen a local flamenco guitarist hero in Hanover / Germany whom I tried to approach in the early eighties wanting to receive lessons! He made me run after him through the night life. I was just not worthy without him having even checked me out first) no snobism, not even moderate status symbol anywhere. Paco remained the guy Lucia had raised. Not even aiming to mingle with celebrity glitter and metamorphing into chic set.
He was not lofty, but attentive to the people. Even his skills could not make a snob of him. ( I have noticed that no little number of musicians with their rising know-how and proficiency will develop intolerant against beginner´s / mediocre´s performance. Some become even insensitive to actually sonor sound fields.)
Obviously he was a philanthropist, the opposite of a pretender and always at the core of what counts in life.
That must be what touches the world now way beyond its loss of a unique artist. The friendly personality of this man, despite of his achievements.
Posts: 15725
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC
RE: Paco de Lucia has passed away (in reply to Ruphus)
quote:
That must be what touches the world now way beyond its loss of a unique artist. The friendly personality of this man, despite of his achievements.
People are affected in different ways, and he touched so many. Best quotes I am only recalling from memory where Manolo Sanlucar, that Paco is a true "star" in that he affected people that dont' understand flamenco so they came to love him and his flamenco, and the ones that did understand he made us totally crazy. Meaning he was both popular, AND profound which is rare these days.
The other quote is more personal and directly about the scores of depressed guitar players today. Vicente Amigo said Paco was like a mirror where we guitar players want to see ourselves. So many wished they could be just exactly like him, the ultimate guitar role model and hero that just went beyond the normal celebrity with fans.
RE: Paco de Lucia has passed away (in reply to vigrond)
Days have passed and I can't believe how much his death has affected me, logic tells me there is no reason for me to be sad, he died a good death, lived to a relatively good age, achieved astonishing heights but I feel hollow like something is missing. I have only known of his music for a few years but for the last year I have almost listened to it exclusively every day for a few hours.
Paco has given me so much and I am now unsure if I am into flamenco or if I was only into Paco. His music affects me in a way music has never done so before. It feels like all my years of music listening have been a journey and Paco was the destination and the end though I hope I am proven wrong.
RE: Paco de Lucia has passed away (in reply to Castelat)
quote:
I was so concentrated into this song that when Paco comes in singing I couldn't control some tears. Specially the part: "¿pa' que quiero llorar?, si ya no tengo a nadie quien me oiga..
me too- to add to that I have listened to this seguiriya many times before as it is one of my favorites, but today I heard something in it that I never heard before..I can hear his breath, a sound coming from throat..2:44-2:45 and 2:48 are some examples.... very touching seguiriya
Posts: 2006
Joined: Jul. 12 2004
From: San Francisco
RE: Paco de Lucia has passed away (in reply to chester)
Simple can be very good. It's appropriate that it contains typical flamenco changes but the first few bars are what really makes it work for me. I've already learned most of it. Gives me an excuse to practice tremolo. Hope you don't mind.
RE: Paco de Lucia has passed away (in reply to Mark2)
quote:
Simple can be very good. It's appropriate that it contains typical flamenco changes but the first few bars are what really makes it work for me. I've already learned most of it. Gives me an excuse to practice tremolo. Hope you don't mind.
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